County Information

A 20-year agreement with the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency was approved last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The agreement is for the agency’s St. Joseph County-based site, at 1110 Hill St., in Three Rivers. As part of the arrangement, the health agency will pay $1 a year to the county for rent. Also, either party …

Three Rivers police last week arrested a man after he was being sought for being a parole absconder. Local authorities were notified by the Michigan Department of Corrections that Robert Oliver was believed to be in Three Rivers. He was spotted at 6:10 a.m. Friday at McDonald’s in Three Rivers and fled the scene once he noticed authorities. Oliver ran …

A pair of employment agreements was approved last week by the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners. The hours for Ann Happel and Brian McDaniel were increased to 22 1/2 hours each as part of their work with the County College Access Network. They previously both worked 15 hours a week, but their workload was increased to cover the duties …

A 38-year-old Niles woman was treated for head pains after she was involved in a two-vehicle accident over the weekend in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called to U.S. 12 near Kessington Road shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday. Underwood said Melissa Ogorman, 45, of Lake Odessa, was driving west on U.S. 12 when she slowed …

The St. Joseph County Transportation Authority saw a ridership increase during its 2014-15 fiscal year compared to a year earlier. Steve Yorks, executive director of the Three Rivers-based agency, said 97,506 rides were given during the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30. That figure tops the 95,942 rides given the previous fiscal year. Yorks said the CTA has maintained a …

Sunday’s annual Three Rivers Area Fall Color Tour was hailed a success by the event’s organizers as well as its participants. Tour coordinator Christy Trammell said hundreds of people took part in the self-guided tour, which featured 13 stops spread throughout western St. Joseph and eastern Cass counties. Trammell said the event was blessed to have perfect weather, which contributed …

A 43-year-old Burr Oak man is in stable condition after he was struck by a car over the weekend in Burr Oak Township. Sheriff’s officials said 56-year-old Kevin Mayer, of Sturgis, was driving north on Burr Oak Road shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday when he was unable to avoid striking Ricaurte Hernandez, who was lying in the roadway, south of …

St. Joseph County’s board of commissioners last week agreed to extend its auditing services for one year with a Jackson-based firm. The county and Rehmann Robson concluded a three-year contract with the company’s performance of the county’s 2014 audit. County administrator Pat Yoder said finance director Joni Smith recommended the county renew its contract with the company for one year …

The man accused of murdering 11-year-old Jodi Parrack in Constantine eight years ago was in court this week in St. Joseph County. Daniel Furlong, 65, waived his preliminary investigation Wednesday in District Court. The move is related to Furlong’s charges of unlawful imprisonment and assault with a dangerous weapon from a July 28 incident with a 10-year-old girl at what …

A major step to create more parking for people doing business at the county courthouse was taken this week. Members of the county board Tuesday accepted an $18,000 bid from Centreville-based Adams Excavating for the demolition of a two-story house at the southeast corner of Dean and Burr Oak streets. Terms of the contract include all materials hauled from the …